Brian Wilmot proved too strong for Wayne Parkes in the Willie Whelton Cup at Grange, securing a commanding victory.
Peter Murray advanced in the Michelle Hayes Cup with a win over Denis O’Sullivan in Rosscarbery.
Other action continued across regions with Junior A tournament action in Ballinacurra and U18 championship action got under way in the Gaeltacht, while regional team bowling events continued. 

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​Brian Wilmot continued his dominance over Wayne Parkes when they clashed in the Willie Whelton Cup at Grange.

Playing for a total stake of €3,000, Parkes only led once in this score. Wilmot took the first shot and Parkes the second, before Wilmot got a huge third out of sight at the stud farm — Parkes missed this in two shots to go a bowl down.

After three more shots past De Barras, Parkes had reduced the gap to under the bowl. But another incredible shot from Wilmot to the school cross put the pressure back on Parkes, who only beat it by 15 metres in two. He was now fighting an uphill battle.

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In control, Wilmot raised the second bowl at the end of Hegarty’s Wall. Three more shots each up to John Bills, Parkes had the gap under the bowl again by a few metres. From here, Wilmot's bowling was only average but Parkes could make no inroads into the odds. Two more bowls up to the White House where it was just under the two bowls of odds. Wilmot missed sight for Barry’s and Parkes also missed sight. Wilmot’s 15th shot caught a pillar at Barry’s, but Parkes got caught on the left. Game over.

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Togher man Peter Murray, who has not much bowling done in recent times, was victorious in his first-round score in the Michelle Hayes Cup at Rosscarbery, beating Denis O'Sullivan, Caheragh. They played for a total stake of €1,800.

Both reached the entrance to the new house in three each, as Murray took his first lead.

But O’Sullivan was back in front again at the end of the Priests Wall. At Barry’s Boreen in three more each, Murray had a 15-metre advantage — he got two great bowls to the farm to raise a bowl of odds. From here, O'Sullivan lined two excellent shots to the no-play line and Murray made the second line in three.

Murray had a 20-metre lead at Cahermore Cross that he certainly used to his advantage, as he lined five perfect bowls to the finish to win by almost a bowl.

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Ballinacurra are pressing on with their Junior A tournament. Here, Cathal Creedon had a trap-to-line victory over Noel O'Donovan for a total stake of €4,600. At Brinny Cross in four each, Creedon had a 25-metre advantage. A huge fifth shot from Creedon to the Waterworks raised big odds for him. Creedon raised the bowl of odds with his sixth to the Gas Line, as O'Donovan played his bowl too far right.

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Creedon held the bowl advantage to the Hurling Alley. O'Donovan made poor sight for the bridge with his tenth and Creedon went well out. O'Donovan was too far left with his next and only made Innishannon Cross, while Creedon lined a perfect bowl past the Silvery Gates to put the score beyond O'Donovan's reach. By the end, he won by two bowls of odds.

The Gaeltacht region got their boys’ and girls’ U18 championship underway. At Baile Bhuirne, Sean Lehane beat Evan O'Riordan, and Charlie McCarthy beat Aodh Lynch. At Ballingeary, Eoin O'Riordan beat Cillian Dineen and Fionnan Galvin beat Kevin Kelleher, while at Kilnamartyra Tara Twomey got a walk-over from Nicole Buttimer, and Alice Browne beat Jamie O'Callaghan.

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With the overall novice finals fixed for March 29th, all regions are getting on with their team selections. Carbery held their team event at Leap, as Tom McCarthy, Kieran Shannon and Jack Cahalane took the honours. Mid held their event at Castletown and the winning team were Ballinacurra — Martin Cronin, Chris Hayes and Brian Galvin.

The South West held their event at the Pike and the winning team here were Fishers Cross — Cathal O'Donovan, Denis O'Donovan and Denis Fitzpatrick.